Straw and hay ctjtteb



J. 0. COCHRAN.

Straw Cutter. No. 32,962. Patented July 30, 1861.

' drawings.

'ters are also raised and vice versa.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEFTGE.

JOHN D. COOHRAN, OF MILFORD, NEYV HAMPSHIRE.

STRAW AND HAY CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 32,962, dated July 30, 1861.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN D. CooHnAN, of Milford, in the county of Hillsboro and State of New Hampshire, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Straw and Hay Cutters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1. represents a perspective view of the machine with the side board removed, to show the device which communicates motion to the endless apron. Fig. 2. is a longitudinal section.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to de scribe its construction and operation.

In the drawings A, represents the boX or receptacle for the hay or straw. It is sup ported on legs B, B, the latter being grooved out as seen at a, a, to receive the cutter frame C. To the upper inner side of said cutter frame, C, is attached a knife D, of the form shown in dotted lines Fig. 1. This knife works down past a metallic cutting plate E, fastened to the top of cross piece F, it sometimes happens that it is not only quite convenient but very desirable to use two knives, to save time in cutting, especially is this the case when cutting or slicing vegetables. For this purpose a knife G, is fastened to the lower ends of plates 5, I), at-

ached to frame piece H, which is provided with pins 0, 0, shown in dotted lines Fig. 1., to fit into holes in the upper cross piece of the cutter frame, as fully illustrated in the when, therefore it is desired to use the second knife G, frame H, can be quickly applied to the cross piece, and, quickly removed.

I, is a stay board and hand rest which connects-the sides of boX A, and is placed just back of the second knife G.

Motion is communicated to the knife frame by means of a hand lever J, pivoted to the upper cross piece of the cutter frame at (Z, while the end of leverJ, opposite the operator is slotted and held in proper position by a pin in one of the front pieces B. It will thus be seen that when the operator raises lever J, the cutter frame and cut- WVhen both knives are used knife G, cuts down upon plate E, while the other knife D cuts by the edge of the plate.

The bottom of box A, is provided with an endless band or apron L, which encircles the wooden or stationary bottom M, and revolves on rolls 0, p, the former being sustained in adjusting plates y, one of which is seen in Fig. 1. for the purpose of keeping the apron straight or taut.

Motion is communicated to apron L, by means of a projection c, on the end of the bottom, cutter frame C, striking against a movable block piece f, fitted in a groove in the front of piece K, whereby an up motion is given to said block piece f, at each upward motion of the cutter frai' e, the block piece being drawn down by a spring m, attached to a projection 72, see Fig. 1. To the rear of piece f, is fastened a pawl g, which takes into teeth on a ratchet wheel h, on the end of shaft 2', of roll p. Pawl g, is kept up against ratchet wheel h, by a spring A, while spring catch j, prevents the wheel from turning back. Pawl g, rests against a pin Z, when drawn down by its spring 192-, pin Z, passes through the side board when that is on.

At every rising of the cutter frame, apron L, by the mechanism above described, is moved forward and thus, feeds the straw or hay to the knife. The operator by raising the cutter frame high can make the apron feed a greater length of straw or hay.

O, is a swing apron, hung at 1, to keep the straw or hay pressed gently down while being fed forward.

Having described my improved hay and straw cutter, what I claim therein, as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination and arrangement of projecting e, mavoble block f, pawl g, and ratchet wheel h, operating in relation to each other for the purposes stated.

The combination with the cross head piece of the cutter frame, of the removable frame H, with its knife G, and pins, constructed and operating, as and for the purposes stated.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name. I

JOHN D. COCHRAN.

In presence of PARIS H. HILL, A. W. SAWYER. 

